John plant



UNIED SATES PANT OFFICE.

JOI-IN PLANT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LATCH-HINGE.

Specication of Letters Patent No. 23,859', dated May 3, 1859.

To fl-Z whom it may conce-rn.'

Be it known that I, JOHN PLANT, of the city and county of `Washington and District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latch-Hinges; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a perspective view of the hinge when open and the latch (shown in dotted line) securing it: Fig. 2, is a section of the leaf of the hinge to be attached to the frame. Fig. 8, a section of the one to be attached to the blind or shutter, showing the latch slightly raised; Fig. t a view of the latch as detached from the hinge and Fig. 5 is a reverse or under side ofthe same.

The nature of my improvement consists in so constructing a hinge when used with a latch for retaining it open, that great additional strength and efficiency shall be given, and a simple cheap and durable article be produced.

The body of the hinge is the same as that known as the parliament hinge, upon the back of each leaf is cast a projection (c) standing out at right angles to it, which be* ing provided with a hole at (cl) for the insertion of a screw into the blind or frame, gives additional strength to the hinge and security in attaching` it: The projections (c, c) are so situated on the leaves (a) and (7)) that when the hinge is open they abut against each other and prevent it opening too far: They are provided with lips (e, c) over which the notch (f) of the latch (g) falls, and from the notch embracing and having a bearing on both of the lips (e) the journal of the latch is relieved.

In the upper edge of the standing leaf (a) is a notch at (it) to allow a portion of the latch to pass to the front side of the hinge and form a thumb piece for raising it; the

l l x latch is provided with a second notch (7c) at right angles to the former one, which embraces the edge of the standing leaf when dropped and forms a second lock. The lower edge of the latch is made snail shaped or spiral, rising from the heel to the frontend of it, for the purpose of being gradually lifted by the edge of the leaf (a) in passing over it, until it reaches the notch Us) then the latch drops, and the hinge is held open until the engagement of the notches is released by the lifting of the latch by the finger or thumb as the blind or shutter is closed.

In fitting the hinge there is no cutting or disfigurement of the frame, the projection on it being outside of the edge thereof and the latch attached to the blind, the projection on the moving leaf of the hinge serves as a guide in fitting to the blind. The latch (g) has one end of its journal inserted in a hole in the leaf of the hinge` the other in a socket attached to the blind. In the employment of my improved hinge it is usual to apply plain parliament hinges above and the latched ones at the bottom of the blind, and from their construction the blind can be slipped off or on with facility.

It is to be noticed that the top of the latch (g) is level with the main body of the leaves at the upper edge, both when open or closed.

I-Iaving thus fully described my improvement what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The hinge (a) (b) when provided with projections c, c, and latch (g) and when constructed and operating in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name before two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN PLANT.

IVitnesses:

JOHN F. CLARK, EDW. F. BROWN. 

